August 7, 2015
CapitalPress.com
13
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DIXON, Calif. (AP) —
California’s historic drought
could wipe out a tiny, en-
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an outsized role in the state’s
water wars.
The delta smelt lives in
the Sacramento-San Joaquin
River Delta, the West Coast’s
largest estuary that supplies
water to Central Valley farms
and millions of Southern Cal-
ifornia residents.
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drought is helping to push
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tinction. And it threatens sev-
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green sturgeon and winter-run
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WD VPHOW DEXQGDQFH KLW ]HUR
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ers found a handful of smelt,
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to register on the population
gauge.
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ly on its last legs right now.
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the coming year,” said Peter
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University of California-Da-
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Moyle and three other re-
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waters of the sprawling estu-
ary that once teemed with the
delta smelt.
They pulled a net out of the
water and emptied dozens of
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including carp, crappie, cat-
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delta smelt.
Delta smelt populations
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cades due to invasive pred-
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farms and cities. The drought
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raising water temperatures.
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made all the things that were
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said.
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at the center of vicious water
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ermen, cities and environmen-
talists ever since it was listed
as a threatened species under
the U.S. Endangered Species
AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
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an endangered under state law In this July 15 photo, a delta smelt is seen at the University of Cali-
fornia-Davis Fish Conservation and Culture Lab in Byron, Calif.
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By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press
REARDAN, Wash. — Pa-
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tions with warm-weather cano-
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Soil research company Rhi-
zoterra Inc., showcased the new
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research farm in Reardan, Wash.
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scientists from the USDA Ag-
ricultural Research Service,
Washington State University
and University of Idaho to raise
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canola.
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ers to provide crops that are
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heat later on in the growing sea-
son, said Jill Clapperton, princi-
pal scientist and co-founder with
Reardan farmer Fred Fleming.
“The idea here is to develop
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these crops,” Clapperton said.
“If we show that they grow in
this area, we have to help the
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venture.”
Clapperton said she is the
only one in the Reardan area
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coastal regions and on the East
Coast, Clapperton said. She
hopes to supply a new protein
processing plant in North Da-
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earlier,” Clapperton said. “If
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By JOHN O’CONNELL
Capital Press
Rhizoterra Inc. soil scientist Jill Clapperton demonstrates a new tracer that would allow farmers to
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ply Inc. crop advisor Cal Barta looks on at left.
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spring and hot in the summer. I
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area.”
Clapperton also showcased
new technology, including a pel-
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Organics in Royal City, Wash.,
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soils. Spangle, Wash., farmer
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interested in the new crops if
there’s demand for them.
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Clapperton demon-
strates a new tracer
that would allow
farmers to measure
the materials in their
soil.
Photos by
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Capital Press
LAVA HOT SPRINGS, Ida-
ho — Cameron Williams’ cattle
used to congregate along the
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uting to sediment in the water.
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proving water quality, the Grace,
Idaho, rancher now has three new
pastures, each containing a water
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their contact with the river.
His ranch was among seven
ongoing or recent southeast Ida-
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Conservation Commission. Tour
organizers said most of the land-
owners are agricultural produc-
ers, who typically derive as much
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Williams said he’s proud of
the return of vegetation along
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tions have also improved.
“It’s given us more manage-
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“We can isolate herds and not
have to go to the river with them.”
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ect tours were scheduled for the
Magic and Treasure valleys as
part of an Idaho Conservation
Summit. Tour invitations were
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water conservation districts, the
Idaho Department of Environ-
mental Quality, the Environ-
mental Protection Agency, land-
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The state invests $2.8 million
annually in the conservation com-
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servation districts. Funding for
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tour came from a host of sources,
including USDA grant programs
and EPA grants authorized under
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ter Act, as well as a host of local
agencies, non-governmental orga-
nizations and companies.
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rancher who started a consulting
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come hurdles to complete their
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grazing, and it improves their wa-
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and we’ve done a lot of weed and
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and even sage grouse.”
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Board chairman:
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he said.
Center is ‘crossroads’ require,”
The center aligns with U.S.
Wheat Associates’ mission as
of industry
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Capital Press
The search is underway for a
new director at the Wheat Mar-
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“We’ve already had a num-
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a Culdesac, Idaho, farmer and
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Shelton resigned in early July
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son was given.
“We wish him well,” he said.
The position requires a man-
agement perspective and under-
standing of the industry, Flory
said.
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is the crossroads of the world
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arm of the industry, Flory said.
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cations we’re getting already, I
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to leave it open for a long period
of time,” he said.
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for the center, pointing to product
development with overseas cus-
tomers. Flory and center techni-
cal director Gary Hou will meet
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“There’s always challenges,
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as opportunities,” he said. “The
world is highly competitive and
we’ve got to have the resources
to continue to sell wheat and
provide our customers with the
technological tools they need.”
32-2/#4
By MATTHEW WEAVER
32-2/#4N